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JERSEY - Spire is donating $5,000 to the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office during a check presentation at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sheriff's Office at 114 N. Washington St. in Jerseyville. The Sheriff’s department will use the donation to secure additional resources and equipment for officers. Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen was very thankful for the donation and said it will help the office purchase equipment for officers including armor-plated carriers. “Daily, our officers could face dangerous, life-threatening situations," he added. "This donation from Spire allows us to secure equipment that will help protect our officers while as they protect our community.” The donation is being made on behalf of Spire’s STL Pipeline. “Spire continues our promise of advancing the communities we work and live in," Alex Sammet, Manager of Right of Way and Land Management for Spire, said. “This donation to the Sheriff’s Department will positively

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ST. LOUIS — Now is your chance to work at one of the most unique attractions in St. Louis. The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch on the St. Louis Riverfront is hiring for 40 positions ahead of the summer cruising season. “Here at the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, we are dedicated to fostering an enjoyable and fun work environment for our team members,” says Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development. “You’ll meet interesting people from all over the world while serving as an ambassador for St. Louis.” Open positions include riverboat operations roles such as deckhands, mates and even a riverboat captain, as well as ticket sales agents, servers and bartenders. Interested applicants should visit riverboatstljobs.com for more information about the jobs and to apply at the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. EMPLOYEE PERKS All riverboat team members are eligible for a free Metro Transit pass, which is

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced an infusion of support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will be awarded to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. “Head Start and Early Head Start programs are critical for kids throughout Illinois to have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom,” Duckworth said. “Investments in early childhood education and parental support programs aren’t just important during this pandemic, they are investments in our future. I’m proud to continue supporting these programs with Senator Durbin to help children reach their full potential.” “This federal funding will help give children in the Metro East the strong social and educational foundation they need to flourish throughout preschool, elementary school,

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced today that it has filed emergency rules prohibiting the sale or exhibiting of poultry and poultry products at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in Illinois to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The Department’s emergency rules take effect immediately and may be effective for up to 150 days. However, after 45 days, the Department will reevaluate based on the avian flu status at the time and may repeal the emergency rules at that point. If the situation requires further cancellation, the Department will continue to evaluate in 45-day increments for up to 150 days. “Protecting animal health in the state of Illinois remains our number one priority,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. “We are optimistic that as the migratory bird season comes to an end, we will see a decrease in exposure for our flocks here in Illinois and our neighboring states, and be able

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Gori Law Firm recently announced that Madeline Dixon has joined the firm as an attorney. Dixon will be working in the firm’s New Orleans office, located at 909 Poydras Street, Suite 2195. Born and raised in Shreveport, La., Dixon has always had an interest in the pursuit of justice. Upon graduating from Louisianan State University with a degree in political science, she then earned her Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2019. Since her admittance to the Louisiana Bar, Dixon has practiced law in New Orleans, working in the areas of personal injury, immigration, family law, workers’ compensation and criminal law. At The Gori Law Firm, her primary focus will be to fight for families who have negatively been affected by asbestos exposure, helping them to receive the compensation they deserve. “We are always excited to add new faces to our team and believe Madeline will make a great addition to our asbestos litigation practice

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JERSEYVILLE – In 2021, the City of Jerseyville began turning a community-shared vision into priorities and plans for a revitalization plan for the city’s historic downtown. A reimagined vision for Jerseyville’s downtown district first came to light through a series of conversations among members of the public, city leaders and local economic development staff, regional tourism stakeholders, and Illinois Department of Transportation representatives. The goal: To reimagine and re-energize Jerseyville’s downtown as a vibrant, family- and pedestrian-friendly, inclusive, and welcoming regional destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences. City leaders have now brought in St. Louis, Mo.-based firm PGAV Planners to help guide Jerseyville through the next steps of the process. PGAV Planners provides urban planning, financial development analysis, economic development planning, and municipal advising. The PGAV company also offers architecture

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ST. LOUIS — United Way of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition are partnering together for St. Louis Metro Money Smart Month, offering more than 60 free events and classes on financial education and money management throughout April. This year, there will be in-person and virtual events for participants of all ages including pre-k to seniors, including several in Illinois. Celebrating its 10 th year in the St. Louis region, Money Smart Month is a community education program sponsored by the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition in partnership with United Way of Greater St. Louis, area libraries, community organizations, and financial institutions. Money Smart Month classes and events will be held throughout April to help individuals and families learn about money management, goal setting, saving for retirement or college, building credit, reducing debt, estate planning, and more. “Money Smart Month is a great opportunity

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SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled a new ad campaign featuring Phillip Hanks, an organ recipient who received five lifesaving organs from a single donor. The campaign marks the beginning of National Donate Life Month in April. “Phillip’s story shows how organ and tissue donation saves lives,” said Secretary White. “Phillip was able to be there for the birth of his granddaughter and he now works as an advocate for my office with the organ/tissue donor program. He reminds us that by registering to become an organ donor that you, too, could help change someone’s story.” Phillip needed the transplant because after a liver transplant in 2007, an extra valve in the liver produced scar tissue blocking an important vein, which required the five-organ transplant known as a multivisceral transplant. In April 2021, Phillip received a new liver, small and large intestine, stomach, pancreas and kidney. In the public service announcement

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, IL. - Yesterday, Sierra Club Illinois and Prairie Rivers Network joined the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in their lawsuit against Sugar Camp Energy, LLC by filing a Motion to Intervene. Sugar Camp Energy is a subsidiary of Foresight Energy, which is the largest privately-owned coal company in the country, and operates Sugar Camp Mine, which is the country’s 7th largest coal mine , in Southern Illinois. Attorney General Raoul’s office filed their suit in January 2022 after mine operators dumped 46,000 gallons of firefighting foam , including at least 660 gallons of concentrated PFAS-based foam, deep into the underground coal mine in an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish a fire. While the Attorney General’s lawsuit describes Sugar Camp’s violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Sierra Club Illinois and Prairie Rivers Network assert that Sugar Camp Energy also violated the Clean Water Act and Sugar Camp’s National

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The traffic accident at 2:53 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, on Interstate 64 Westbound at Milepost 4.4, had a fatality and two were transported with life-threatening injuries. This is the preliminary ISP report from the traffic crash, below: WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Interstate 64 westbound at Milepost 4.4, St. Clair County WHEN: April 5, 2022, at approximately 2:53 p.m. VEHICLES: Unit 1 – Black 2012 Nissan Altima Unit 2 – Orange 2018 International Dump Truck DRIVERS : Unit 1 – A 22-year-old male from Du Quoin, IL. – Airlifted to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Unit 2– A 64-year-old male from Belleville, IL. – was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PASSENGER: Unit 1 – A 23-year-old female from Fairview Heights, IL - Deceased. PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Three Illinois

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BETHALTO – The Civic Memorial Eagles found themselves down 4-0 and later on 6-2 after five innings against the Marquette Explorers Saturday afternoon (April 2). However, CM’s baseball team was able to rally back with a seven-run sixth inning and went on to win the game 9-6. It was CM senior Luke Parmentier’s triple that scored the two go-ahead runs to make it 8-6 and gain his team’s first lead of the day. Parmentier is the Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete Of The Month For Civic Memorial High School “I was just trying to swing short," he said. "I got a good pitch to hit, and I put a good swing on it.” That triple was his only hit of the day. He got on base once before when he was walked in the first inning. While he was on base, he stole second which put him in scoring position. He later crossed the plate to score his team’s first point of the game. The win makes it three in a row for the Eagles and they have now beaten both crosstown

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GALENA, MO. - A Missouri judge today made the decision to dismiss all charges for the duck boat operators in the 2018 tragedy in stormy weather on Table Rock Lake - Curtis Lanham, Charles Baltzell, and Kenneth Scott McKee. Judge Alan Blankenship dismissed the charges for each because he said there was a lack of evidence that the boat operators knowingly risked the passengers’ lives. The three were facing multiple felony charges over the 2018 tragedy. Sixteen passengers including nine from the same family and one crew member driving the boat, drowned that night and making it one of the deadliest boating accidents in U.S. history. Judge Blankenship said this in a statement to the media: “This court feels great sadness for this needless loss of life and the impact on the victims’ family and friends. However, because the court does not find sufficient evidence to support the men’s reason or intent required for the charges at issue, as defined by Missouri law,

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EAST ALTON — United Way’s Southwest Illinois Division will host its sixth annual Power of the Purse event on Thursday, April 28, to help local people. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Community College – N. O. Nelson Campus, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville, IL, 62025. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy appetizers from Bella Milano , drinks, a silent purse auction, and a live auction with a fashion showcase of designer handbags. Admission is $30 per person, and additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. All proceeds will help local people through the Southwest Illinois Division of United Way of Greater St. Louis. To register or purchase a sponsorship, visit Helplingpeople.org/purse or contact Millie Bond at 618-258-9800. Lisa Hayes, Power of the Purse volunteer committee chair and global talent acquisition, university recruiting talent operations specialist at Boeing is thrilled to be leading this exciting community event once

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CASEYVILLE - A part of Interstate-64 is closed near Caseyville after an accident that involved an Illinois Department of Transportation truck. The accident is serious and a medical helicopter landed at the scene to transport one victim and another victim was reported seriously injured. Multiple vehicles are involved in the crash. Motorists are advised to stay away from the area during the evening commute. More to come. To see the above photo on FOX 2, click here.

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FDA is currently seven months delinquent on acting on a court-order to review e-cigarette applications, which has allowed companies like JUUL to continue hooking kids WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf about the agency’s delay in comprehensively regulating the e-cigarette marketplace to protect public health. During today’s call, Durbin urged new Commissioner Califf to finally conclude FDA’s review of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for e-cigarette products, now seven months past the court-ordered deadline for the review. While FDA has reviewed nearly seven million PMTAs it received, the agency has yet to act on e-cigarette products most often used by children, including JUUL. Under the Tobacco Control Act , e-cigarette manufacturers must prove to FDA that entry on the market would be “appropriate for the protection

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EDWARDSVILLE - The new owners of Cleveland Heath - Gina and Evan Buchholz - were welcomed recently with an Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. For the last decade, this beloved restaurant has been a staple of downtown Edwardsville. Gina and Evan plan to maintain the farm-to-table concept including seasonal items and have plans for a few upgrades to enhance the dining experience. While reflecting on the first few months of ownership Gina said: "We're very excited to be part of this neighborhood and the community is amazing to be a part of." She also shared there are "a lot of fun and exciting things to come." Supporters from the local business community included front row: Sam Fink (Holmes Insurance Agency), Angela Warren (Bank of Madison County), Laura Mattson (First Community Credit Union), Kristy Armstrong (restaurant patron), Gina and Evan Buchholz (Cleveland Heath), Lauren Smith (Royal Banks of Granite City), Mary Jo Smith (Hospice of Southern Illinois),

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ALTON - The Alton Education Foundation hosted the annual Guardians of Education Recognition & Appreciation event this past week at the Post Commons in Alton and again it was a special event. This open house event featured exhibits from the 2021 teacher grant awardees. Coffee and pastries were served. The format was a little different this year as grant recipients had stations and showcased what they had done with their grants. Elaine Kane of the Alton School District said the district for years has so much appreciated what the foundation does for the schools. Ann McLaughlin coordinated the breakfast as this year's chair and did an excellent job, Kane said. “It is inspiring,” Kane said. “It is a group of volunteers and a group of donors committed to our teachers and schools,” she said. “They really go out of their way to show support and affirmation of the work our teachers do every day. It allows our teachers to be innovative and creative. I don’

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic's Sammy Hentrich is off to a sensational start for the 2022 track and field season for the Explorers. Sammy is the Tucker Automotive Repair & Tire, Inc., Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette Catholic High School. Sammy's Coach Tim Turnbeaugh describes her as one of the "catalysts" for his Marquette girls' team in 2022. The coach said Hentrich, a junior, so far this season has recorded a 13.64 time in the 100, 28.14 in the 200, 55.14 in the 300 hurdles, long jumped 14-0.5 outdoors, and long jumped 15-10 in the Jersey Winter Thaw indoors, one of the best jumps in the state. The 15-10 jump is "fantastic," her coach said. She also had a best of 8.57 in the 60-meter dash indoors. Coach Turnbeaugh said Sammy was 25th in the final rankings indoor. She is working towards the peak time and performance in the long jump when the state series comes around. "She is working very hard to get back to IHSA State Meet on May 19, 2022," the coach said. "So far this

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EDWARDSVILLE – Two of the legal industry’s most prestigious firms - Flint Law Firm, LLC. and Raefan Group - announced today that they have merged to form the preeminent litigation firm, Flint Cooper, LLC. The new firm will be co-led by founding partners Ethan Flint and Jeff Cooper, both of whom are world-renowned for their accomplishments litigating asbestos-related cases and 5th Amendment Takings cases. By joining forces, Flint Cooper immediately scales the reach and velocity with which the firm manages a diverse portfolio of multibillion-dollar cases. Currently, Flint Cooper is actively working on a caseload worth over $17B the majority of which is comprised of post-judgment collections and damages phase litigation. Flint Cooper has offices in Dallas, Edwardsville, and Paducah. "Our firms have always respected and supported each other when it comes to shared values around client commitment and reputational excellence,” says Ethan Flint, Co-Founder of Flint Cooper.

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SPRINGFIELD – Leaders of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) released the following statement today after Governor Pritzker signed HB 1167 into law, creating COVID-specific sick days for vaccinated educators and school staff and restoring previously used sick time for school and university employees who were forced to quarantine (or stayed home with school-aged children forced to do so) during the 2021-22 school year. IFT President Dan Montgomery said, "The pandemic has been emotionally and economically daunting for us all, especially educators, school staff, and their families who have been on the front lines of COVID’s effects from day one. By signing this bill today, Governor Pritzker has provided important relief and ensured that education personnel can afford to take time off if they or their families become ill with COVID-19. His leadership will help keep our students and communities healthy even as new variants arise and COVID rates in our state fluctuate over

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